Celebrating the Best in Canadian Science Writing

News

The Lane Anderson Awards for Excellence in Canadian Science Writing were presented last night during an intimate dinner at Yorkville’s Sassafraz Restaurant.

There were four finalists in each of the categories – adult books, and books for young readers.

The winner in the Books for Young Readers category was Cybele Young for The Queen’s Shadow a story about how animals see, published by Kids Can Press. Judges commented : “blends light-hearted mystery with well-researched science….the kind of science book that begs to be re-read….”
Ms. Young lives in Toronto, ON.

Runners up in this category were:

Footprints the story of what we eat by Paula Ayer, published by Annick Press.

Judges commented: “A book that both educates teen readers and empowers them to make their own choices…”
Paula Ayer lives in Vancouver, B.C.

What’s the Buzz? Keeping bees in flight by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox, published by Orca Books

Judges commented: “By blending her personal experience of bees with current scientific understanding, The author adds humour, authority and conviction that individuals really can make a difference…”
Merrie-Ellen Wilcox lives in Victoria, B.C.

The winner in the Adult category was Alanna Mitchell for Malignant Metaphor confronting cancer myths, published by ECW Press. Judges commented: “Combining societal and behavioural trends with highly personal interaction with a close relative’s situation (the author) has shone a whole new light on our obsessive fear of, and reaction to this dreaded disease.”
Alanna Mitchell lives in Toronto,ON.

Runners-up in this category were:

Once They Were Hats in search of the mighty beaver by Frances Backhouse, published by ECW Press.

Judges commented: “ Immensely engaging bio-history of the beaver in North America. Well researched from multiple perspectives…”
Frances Backhouse lives in Victoria, B.C.

Dam Builders the natural history of beavers and their ponds by Michael Runtz, published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside. Judges commented: “A beautiful pictorial science of the beaver…the pictures are truly incredible.”
Michael Runtz lives in Kingston, ON

Slick Water fracking and one insider’s stand against the world’s most powerful industry by Andrew Nikiforuk, published by Greystone Books and the David Suzuki Institute.

Here’s your chance to have your say and win the 2015 Lane Anderson Award finalists! Tweet your favourite finalist from either the Adult or Young Readers category and include the hashtag:

#laneandersonaward

On Friday, September 30th, 2016, a winner will be selected in each category.

There will be two (2) winners:

One (1) package of the Adult finalists

Dam Builders: The Natural History of Beavers and their Ponds (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)Malignant Metaphor: Confronting Cancer Myths (ECW Press)Once They Were Hats: In Search of the Mighty Beaver (ECW Press)Slick Water: Fracking and One Insider’s Stand Against the World’s Most Powerful Industry (Greystone Books)

One (1) package of the Young Readers finalists

Foodprints: The Story of What We Eat (Annick Press)Head Lice: The Disgusting Critters Series (Tundra Books)The Queen’s Shadow: A Story About How Animals See (Kids Can Press)What’s the Buzz?: Keeping Bees in Flight (Orca Book Publishers)

Contest opens on August 24th, 2016 at noon EST and closes on September 29th, 2016 at 11:59pm EST.

Environmental preservation was the dominant theme tonight as the Fitzhenry Family Foundation presented authors L.E. Carmichael and Stephen Leahy with the prestigious Lane Anderson Award for the best science writing in Canada in 2014.

The Lane Anderson Award honours writers in two categories: adult and young reader. Winners receive a $10,000 cash prize for their work.

In Your Water Footprint (Firefly Books), Stephen Leahy introduces readers to the Virtual Water Concept and to readers’ awareness of how much water is used in our everyday activities. Leahy is an environmental journalist from Uxbridge, Ontario.

“The Fitzhenry Family Foundation is excited to award two pieces of work that ultimately encourage protection of the earth’s resources and animal welfare,” said Holly Doll. “It’s important to us that Canadians are encouraged to read about science and the environment at both young reader and adult levels.”

The juries based their decision on the relevance of each book’s content to the importance of science in today’s world, as well as the author’s ability to connect the topic to the interests of the general trade reader. Books must have been published in English between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014.

Today, we are excited to announce the finalists for the best Canadian science books written in 2014.

Our jury panels evaluated submissions in two categories – adult and young readers. They arrived at their shortlist after evaluating the relevance of each book’s content to the importance of science in today’s world, as well as the author’s ability to connect the topic to the interests of the general trade reader.

The winner in each category receives a $10,000 prize.

“The jury adjudicated science books on subjects as varied and topical as space exploration, fracking, and even underwater dinosaurs,” said Holly Doll, Award Manager for the Lane Anderson Award. “Canada has so many talented authors writing about science in today’s world, and the Lane Anderson Award is very pleased to celebrate their work.”

The shortlisted finalists for the 2014 Lane Anderson Award are as follows:

The administrators of the Lane Anderson Award announced they have extended the deadline for the 2014 book prize to 12:00 p.m. ET on May 22, 2015. Submission details are available online.

The Lane Anderson Award honours the very best science writing in Canada in two categories: adult and young reader. The jury will announce the 2014 winners at an event in Toronto in September 2015; the winner in each category will receive $10,000.

Jury panels drawn from the Canadian academic, publishing, creative and institutional fields will evaluate submissions in the two categories on the relevance of the book’s content to the importance of science in today’s world. They will also judge the author’s ability to connect their book’s topic to the interests of the general trade reader.

Past Lane Anderson Award winners include: The Universe from Within: From Quantum to Cosmos by Neil Turok (2012, adult), Before the World Was Ready: Stories of Daring Genius in Science by Claire Eamer, art by Sa Boothroyd (2013, young reader), Nowhere Else on Earth: Standing Tall for the Great Bear Rainforest by Caitlyn Vernon (2011, young reader); and The Peace-Athabasca Delta: Portrait of a Dynamic Ecosystem by Kevin P. Timoney (2013, adult).